AUSTIN — Billions of dollars for highways, student loans, lockups, parks and a slew of other projects will be on the line as Texas voters decide whether to add to the state's debt with four bond proposals.

Voter approval is required because the Texas Constitution forbids most state debt. That means it must be amended for officials to issue general-obligation bonds backed by the state's full faith and credit.

On Nov. 6, voters will be asked to approve $9.7 billion in debt, including $6.75 billion in the four bond proposals. The other $3 billion in a separate proposal would fund a new foray into cancer research.

Bond advocates say the proposals serve the greater good and it makes sense to use bonds, with many going to infrastructure improvements that are traditionally funded by borrowing.

But some fiscal conservative groups are wary or outright opposed, including Americans For Prosperity-Texas, which is fighting every bond proposal on the ballot.

"Every government bond is a delayed tax increase. Every dollar spent by government and every bond issued by government equates to a job lost or a paycheck cut in the private sector," said Peggy Venable, director of the group.

Highway funds

The biggest chunk of proposed new debt is in Proposition 12, which would authorize up to $5 billion for highway improvements and allow state road debt for the first time to be repaid with general revenue.

Texas in the past has paid for roads with general revenue, and it already can issue road bonds repaid in other ways. This would combine the two.

Lawmakers haven't yet specified how the program would work and their next regular session isn't until 2009, so there could be a long lag before the bonds are issued. But backers say it's crucial that it be authorized, since gas tax revenue falls far short of meeting road needs and there's a battle over how much toll roads should be used to bridge the gap.

But Sal Costello, a critic of the Texas Department of Transportation who founded TexasTollParty.com, said he and likeminded Texans will fight the proposal because they believe TxDOT has an unhealthy interest in promoting toll roads.

"They will use every dollar they get to become a taxing authority and shift our public highways to tollways," he said.

"The passage of these bonds will mean we will be less dependent upon toll roads," Carona said.

A catchall bond?

In contrast to one-issue propositions, there's something for almost everyone in Proposition 4, which would authorize up to $1 billion in bonds for construction and repairs for state facilities including a new Texas Youth Commission unit, repairs for state parks and the Battleship Texas, courthouse renovations and a new driver training facility for state troopers.

Venable, however, gave a thumbs down: "Though many of these projects appear deserving of some funding, with a state budget surplus, we should not be obligating bonds/future taxpayers to fund them."

Addressing college costs

Proposition 2 would allow up to $500 million in bonds for student loans in a program that relies largely on loan repayment to support itself and won't tap into general revenue.

"Because the rising costs of attending college and the increasing number of college-bound students are quickly diminishing the program's financial reserves, this is critical," said Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, Senate Finance committee vice-chair.

Venable said student loans are offered by others, adding, "Taxpayers want college to be more affordable, and simply funding more student loans while allowing tuition to climb and requiring little fiscal accountability on how higher education dollars are spent is not in taxpayers' best interest."

Evaluating each proposal

Proposition 16 would authorize an additional $250 million to build water and wastewater infrastructure for some poor areas.

Michael Quinn Sullivan of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility said voters should carefully consider whether borrowing is appropriate when they look at each of the bond proposals.

"Bonds are tax increases on our children," he said. " ... The question we have to ask ourselves is this: Is what I'm getting for this bond purchase ... going to have a sustained value and a public good that is greater than the final cost?"